NFL Foundation donates $100,000 to South Milwaukee School District for field improvements
The South Milwaukee School District has received a $100,000 grant from the NFL Foundation's NFL Club Matching Youth Football Field Grant Program.
The NFL Foundation's grant matches the Green Bay Packers Foundation's $100,000 donation to the district last year to help cover the $3.8 million renovation of the district's athletic fields, according to a news release from the school district.
The NFL Foundation's website said the NFL Club Matching Youth Football Field Grant Program "allows NFL clubs to identify and support youth and high school football needs and growth opportunities in their respective markets."
"Through matching funds from the NFL Foundation, NFL clubs develop and/or support singular or multiple football initiatives at the youth level, thus effectively addressing issues facing the game while also promoting local youth and high school football programs," the NFL Foundation's website said.
The athletic field improvements in South Milwaukee include replacing the football field grass with red and black synthetic turf; replacing the baseball and softball field infields with synthetic turf; resurfacing of the track and improved track-and-field facilities; new fencing for all fields; a new scoreboard and sound system for Spaltholz Field and new concrete and a donor wall at Bucyrus Stadium, according to the district's news release.
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The football field made its debut last September when South Milwaukee defeated rival Cudahy, 44-8.
"Everything is completed except for concrete work at the stadium and the donor wall. Our teams are out and playing on all the surfaces," said South Milwaukee School District communications coordinator Dan Bader in an email to a reporter.
The new concrete and a donor wall at Bucyrus Stadium are expected to be completed this summer.
Along with the NFL and Green Bay Packers Foundation donations, the district has received $1 million from the Bucyrus Foundation and more than $730,000 in local donations and fundraising through the Launching A Legacy Campaign, the news release said.
"When the School Board approved the project, they committed to fund the entire project to ensure it would be completed. The work was paid for out of operating expenses — no debt was incurred. Any funds raised go back into the general operating fund," Bader explained.
The Launching A Legacy Campaign is seeking donors for naming rights opportunities at all of the athletic facilities. There is also an opportunity to donate through the $1,000+ Club. Members receive a gold card with their name etched on it granting lifetime access to all South Milwaukee regular season home events. Also, members can either have their name displayed at the athletic facilities complex or they can make their gift a memorial or honorarium.
Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or alec.johnson@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: The NFL Foundation donated $100,000 for athletic field improvements
